Trelissick is open daily during December 2023 (closing at 2pm on Christmas Eve and closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day). The house has been decorated beautifully and inspired by a Cornish Christmas, there are performances from local choirs and Father Christmas will visit at weekends and in the build up to Christmas.

You can find festive gifts in the shop as well as the perfect winter warmers in the barn café and house tearoom. We aren't open during the evenings this year but you’ll still find plenty to get you in the Christmas spirit.

Christmas in the Trelissick house

The house at Trelissick is open daily from 2 December until 31 December, closing at 2pm on Christmas Eve and closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Anna Sawle (Wedding Flowers in Cornwall) has created the beautiful displays and arrangements in the house, including the dining table laid for a festive feast in the West Library. She’s taken inspiration from Cornish heritage as well as the traditional Cornish tartan and hunting tartan in her displays that complement the rooms and collection while maintaining a festive Christmas atmosphere.

The house at Trelissick is not your typical country house visit and the ground floor rooms host a modest collection. The south facing rooms are open as a place to sit and take in the view with refreshments from the house tearoom and at Christmas some of the festive treats to enjoy include mince pies, Christmas cake, Cornish ginger fairings as well as warming soups and hot spiced apple juice.

 Eating and shopping this Christmas

There are plenty of chances to indulge in festive treats at Trelissick with Crofters, the house tearoom and a pop-up in the stable yard serving a variety of seasonal goodies. In Crofters you’ll find roast turkey and stuffing rolls and mulled wine. Choose hot, spiced apple juice in the house while you enjoy the views.

Under the tipi in the stable yard you’ll find benches, tabletop games and choirs singing throughout December. Open from 10am-4pm 2, 3, 9, 10, and 16 - 23 December. The stable yard pop-up serves seasonal cakes, bakes, mince pies and hot chocolates to enjoy while you take in the festive atmosphere.

Head to the shop for a wide variety of Christmas gifts including festive food, hampers and sustainable decorations that support communities and use recycled materials.

Local choirs and performances in the tipi

Throughout December local choirs visit the tipi with a repertoire of festive carols to delight, performances are between 1-2pm. There will also be Cornish dancing with Tros an Treys (11 December), storytelling with Craig Green (18 December) and a performance of the Mousehole Cat from Falmouth Shout (23 December).

Saturday 16 December - St Mary's Singers

Sunday 17 December - Maids of Melody

Monday 18 December - The Velvets

Tuesday 19 December - Kenwyn Cello

Wednesday 20 December - InTune Choir

Thursday 21 December - Red River Singers

Saturday 23 December - Falmouth Shout perform The Mousehole Cat

Storytelling with local author Craig Green

   Monday 18 December, 11.30am and 2.30pm

Join local author Craig Green under the tipi as he tells his story ‘Christmas in Cornwall’ this Christmas at Trelissick.

“It’s Christmas Eve and Cornwall is blanketed by heavy snow. Two little girls are eagerly awaiting Christmas while out to sea their fisherman father needs some very special extra help.”

Craig will be giving two storytelling sessions on Monday 18 December at 11.30am and 2.30pm. The tipi is sheltered from the winter weather but can still get quite chilly so please wrap up warm when attending. There’ll be picnic benches to sit on during the storytelling sessions.

Please take note that normal admission charges to Trelissick apply, with free admission to National Trust members, and that assistance dogs only are able to attend.

Winter stroll around the grounds

No trip to Trelissick is complete without a gentle stroll around the woodland walk to reflect and recharge near the water. Throw on your cosy jumpers and hats, and head to the countryside to enjoy the winter woodland walks, the beaches and the wider estate of Trelissick. You can even bring your dog with you on your winter stroll.

With over 300 acres of diverse countryside, you can take in the maritime views, stroll through panoramic parkland or venture out into secluded oak woodlands. With the estate surrounded on three sides by the River Fal, it commands an impressive position looking down Carrick Roads to Falmouth. Wherever you choose to explore, the culture and wildlife of the river is never far away this Christmas.

Find out more about Trelissick, what's happening over Christmas, or how to join the National Trust here